Inhibin-alpha subunit is an independent prognostic parameter in human endometrial carcinomas: Analysis of inhibin/activin-alpha, -betaA and -betaB subunits in 302 cases

Activin B promotes endometrial cancer cell migration by down-regulating E-cadherin via SMAD-independent MEK-ERK1/2-SNAIL signaling

“…Interestingly, no significant differences in E-cadherin protein ( P = 0.24) or mRNA ( P = 0.61) levels were observed when similar enrichment analyses were performed with endometrioid endometrial cancers (TCGA; n=307; INHBB, ACVR1B, ACVR2A or ACVR2B mRNA levels in the upper quartile). Moreover, in contrast to serous tumors, where increased inhibin βB immunostaining or mRNA levels are associated with reduced survival [14, 16], neither inhibin βA nor βB expression levels are associated with survival in endometrioid endometrial carcinomas [12, 13]. These findings suggest the relationship between activin B signaling and E-cadherin may be specific to serous endometrial cancer, and may contribute to its aggressive behavior.…”

“…More importantly, inhibin β subunit expression, activin secretion and activin receptor expression have been demonstrated in neoplastic endometrial tissues and/or endometrial cancer cell lines [9–11]. Histopathological studies of inhibin βA and βB subunit expression in endometrial cancers of endometrioid histology failed to show any association with survival [12, 13]. However in a study of 41 non-endometrioid tumors, of which 70% were serous, positive immunostaining for inhibin βB was associated with reduced cause specific survival and trends towards reduced progression free and overall survival [14].…”

Immunolabeling of the Inhibin-βA and -βB Subunit in Normal and Malignant Human Cervical Tissue and Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

“…), using a semiquantitative score as previously described and used to assess the expression pattern of inhibin/activin subunits. 5,10 The immunoreactive score (IRS) was calculated by multiplication of optical staining intensity (graded as 0 = no, 1 = weak, 2 = moderate and 3 = strong staining) and the percentage of positively stained cells (0 = no staining, 1 = G10% of the cells, 2 = 11%Y50% of the cells, 3 = 51%Y80% of the cells and 4 = 981% of the cells). The IRS of inhibin-A A and -A B immunohistochemical expression levels were compared using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test.…”

“…2 The inhibin subunits have been also detected in endocrine tumors, 3 and their differential expression has suggested an important role in malignant cell transformation. 4,5 Interestingly, there is increasing evidence that activin A, the homodimer of the A A subunit, can inhibit cancer cell proliferation in experimental models. 6 However, it is quite unclear whether and to what extent squamous epithelial cancers also express the inhibin-A A and -A B subunits.…”

Function and regulation of MTA1 and MTA3 in malignancies of the female reproductive system

“…Although several prognostic factors have been established [53,55,[68][69][70], it is assumed that approximately 20 % of all endometrial cancer patients die of their disease [62]. This is actually an unusual situation for a solid tumor, especially since patients with endometrial cancer are diagnosed at an early stage.…”